Thursday, 16 September 2021 14:55

Irrigation technology evolves, delivering better value

Written by  Staff Reporters
Irrigation system experts believe the future value from technology and irrigation looks fantastic. Irrigation system experts believe the future value from technology and irrigation looks fantastic.

On-farm irrigation technology has evolved at a fast pace over the last two decades and farmers have both adopted and evolved with it and have helped it evolve, according to WaterForce.

The irrigation system experts believe the future value from technology and irrigation looks fantastic with the evolution of technologies such as advanced AI and satellite/drone data, alongside the improvements in core product lines like sprinklers, and control and monitor products.

"We have plenty of options available to deliver great results for farmers today," it says.

Farm irrigation technology will mean different things to different users.

Generally, technology references the wide range of smart irrigation products that help farmers with water management and water use; and this is commonly available with products such as Valley Irrigation's Valley 365.

These are products for smart control and monitoring of on-farm irrigators. Typically, they are advanced control systems, soil moisture measuring systems, weather stations, flow-meter monitoring and management products like SCADAfarm EDGE.

It can also be adding simple products to a pivot, or linear, like rain buckets, or wind speed indicators, or even upgrading your sprinkler pack.

WaterForce says as farming has evolved, a growing trend both locally and internationally is emerging - a demand for reductions in labour and travel times; and for improvements in the management, and reductions in the use, of water and nutrients.

On-farm technology has evolved to meet this demand, and the toolbox available to farmers is growing every day - from the simple product improvements (like new sprinkler pack technologies) through to the advanced control and monitoring products now available.

A common challenge for users of technology is understanding your core goals and aims before investing in on-farm technology.

To get the best out of technology products they need to be delivering against farm objectives from day one.

More like this

Point of View: Vineyard irrigation scheduling

Most vineyards require irrigation at some point. Deciding when and how much is required is a powerful management tool that directly affects fruit production, disease pressure, and even operational passes.

Lifting irrigation prowess on farm

The ability to manage an irrigation system depends on the percentage of water pumped that becomes available for plants to use, according to Watermetrics.

Game changing irrigation system

A team of Feilding-based software engineers has helped mastermind a game-changing irrigation prototype that diagnoses its own operating faults and can launch a drone to manage crops at leaf level.

Featured

Keep warm, boost weight

The missing link in getting maximum weight gain in your calves may be as simple as keeping them warm, says the Christchurch manufacturer of a range of woollen covers for young livestock.

Colostrum expert turns 40

Auckland-based supplement and nutritional company New Image International is celebrating 40 years of business in their home country.

National

Passing on a farming legacy

Waiuku dairy farmers Nick and Nikki Ruygrok are passing on a dairy farming legacy to their sons that they can…

Better than feared

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold says last week's Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction went much better than feared.

Machinery & Products

Classy triple auger layout

The growing popularity of whole-crop cereals for livestock, and in some countries as a food source for anaerobic digesters, has…

JD set to run with Skechers

Probably best known for its tractors, harvesters and farm equipment, it looks like John Deere is about to put its…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

More bad news

OPINION: Several days after securing shareholder approval for a $130 million loan from Bright Dairy, Synlait has delivered more bad…

Code Red for National?

OPINION: Recently several Labour MPs, including leader Chris Hipkins and deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni spent two days in Waikato with…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter